The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-01-06
CHAPTER z.

At seven bells that is, half an hour
before eight heard the carpenter S
voice shouting down the companion
for the steward. | instantly opened
the cabin door to tell the man to 90 at
once. as l believed that Stevens mere
" called to give him orders about the
mems breakfast.
This proved to be the case, rs l
presently learned on going on deck,
whittier | repaired (althUugh it was
my watch below in order to see what
the carpenter was about.
L found him lying on one of the sky
lights, smoking pipe, with three or
four men around him, smoking also.
Away on our lee quarter was Il large
steamer, bound, | took it, to the west
coast of Africa. The carpenter. see
ing me watching the steamer, called
out:
''She wouldn't take long to catch
us, would she? | hope there's no man
on board this vessel as 'ud like to see
her alongside, or would do any thing
10 bring her near. | wouldn't like to
be the man as nd do it-would YOU,
Joe?"
"Well. Ed rather ha' made nv will
fust than forgot it. if so it were that |
was that man." responded the fellow
questioned.
Were glad you We come up" con-
timed the carpenter, addressing me,
though without shifting his posture,
''for bowed if | knowed what to do if
she should get askin' us any CUES
lions. Wat'll you do, Mr.. Royle?"
Let her signal Us first" l replied,
quite alive 10 the sinister suggestive
ness of these questions.
The men watched her anXiouslv. but
for myself | gazed upon her with bitter
Indifference. The help | stood in need
of was not likely to come from her or
indeed from any vessel short of an in
quisitive government ship. My role was
clearly TO seem Us one of the men
heart and soul 1t would not do for
me to yield TO any impulse | might
have which would lead me TO attempt
to communicate with the steamer.
We were slipping through the water
quickly. and by the time she was on
our weather-bow the steamer was near
enough to enable us TO see the awning
stretched over her after-deck, and a
crowd of persons watching us. She
was great ocean steamer, and went
magnificently through the water. In
a few minutes she was dead on end.
dwindling the people watching us, but
leaving such long wake astern of her
that we went over it.
What would l have given to be on
board of heri
The carpenter now got off the sky
light
I've told the steward to turn to
and get the mems breakfast" said he.
''Ourn's to be ready by eight; and
Iockon I'll show that sniveiing cock
ney what it is TO be hungry. You
don't call this n mutiny, do yer, Mr..
Royle? Why, the men are like lambs"
''YeS, so they are, " l answered. "All
the same shall be glad to feel dry
land under me. The law always hangs
the skipper of a mutiny, You know;
and I'm the skipper by your appoint
ta.a1A So the sooner we all get out of
this mess the better. eh, MIR. Stevensr'
That's right enough" said he:
land we look to you to get us out of it"
iii do what YOU ask mel won't
do more" answered.
eve don't want more. Enouph's
what we want. You'll let us see YOUR
reckonings every day-not because we
doubt you-but it'll ease the minds of
the men to know that we aren't like to
foul the Bermudas.
1.-The Bermudas are well. to the
nor ard of our course" l answered,
promptly.
"All right, Mr.. Royle, we look to
you, he said, with face on him and
in a tone that meant a good deal more
than met the ear. "Now mates" adj
dressing the others "cut for ard and